England fell at the last.
Italy are worthy and deserved European champions and the trophy belongs in Rome.
But while Euro2020 will be remembered for Italy’s victory, it was also the tournament
when a country fell back in love with its football team.
This is the story of how England learned to like England again.
English football has had many failures and too many have felt the same.
Yes, the Premier League created a land of milk and honey, but it also loaded the national
team with celebrities and entitlement and tournament performances have too often drowned
in that hubris.
But when people reflect on Gareth Southgate’s time as head coach – and on Euro 2020 specifically
– it will be upon a time of humility.
This is the era when the most famous players were no longer assured of their places (and
it didn’t matter), when the squad and the media were no longer at war (well, most of
it), and when the national team stopped being a punchline and started leading the conversation.
You see, the old cliches have been retired.
These are still wealthy players of course, but detached millionaires have been replaced
by young men with social consciences, who are happy to stand up for what they believe
in and, in the process, become proxies for the people watching on.
Marcus Rashford is at the vanguard of the battle against child poverty.
He’s rattled sabres with the government on Universal Credit, too, and now he’s carrying
the torch for child literacy.
Raheem Sterling stood down the vengeful British media.
Tyrone Mings stood up to the Home Secretary.
Harry Kane wore the rainbow flag as a captain’s armband, and Jordan Henderson has helped raise
millions of pounds for the National Health Service.
And they all took the knee, even though it would have been easier not to.
As it would have been for Southgate, who knelt with them.
If he hadn’t, nobody would have said anything.
1996 would still have happened, he would still have the same ghosts and this story would
still have had its redemptive arc.
But he stood with his players and told everyone to listen.
That’s unusual at the best of times.
Today, in England, that’s especially so.
At the beginning of July, The Athletic’s George Caulkin wrote that:
“There is so much anger in our politics and society.
There has been so much sadness and fear in our lives.
There was a time, not too long ago, when football was presented as the worst of us — brutal,
rich, arrogant, intolerant — and now, right now, it feels like the best.”
And the context matters.
The English football team has been underperforming for decades, but England – the country – has
also been burning for years with that hostility.
It’s easy to misunderstand and to see the flags and hear the singing and recognise only
arrogance and entitlement.
But, for most, it’s relief that this team has provided.
Relief from poor tournament performances, yes, but better yet, and bluntly, relief from
the usual associations of being an England fan.
You see, for too long a minority of England fans have dominated the narrative.
That minority has been racist and violent and arrogant.
And it has never been clearer that this England team does not represent that group.
Instead, it is Kalvin Phillips cherishing the memory of his grandmother as he climbed
towards a first major trophy.
It’s Mason Mount and Declan Rice playing alongside each other for their country as
they once did as children.
It’s Raheem Sterling lift his tiny son from the stands after scoring against Germany.
What’s so special about this England?
Nothing – and that’s really the point.
These players come from all over the country (design note: show map below); they’re ordinary
in a relatable way and have a texture that their predecessors kept well hidden.
Jadon Sancho grew up playing cage football in south London.
Harry Kane met his wife when they were at primary school together.
And when the squad gathered for their official photograph, Jordan Henderson had to help Bukayo
Saka and Jack Grealish with their ties.
No, they’re nothing special.
They’re normal and attached to society, connected enough to donate their prize money
from this tournament to charities supporting the NHS.
That politicians and provocateurs have tried to leverage this is unsurprising.
That they’ve largely been ignored is wonderful.
This team already has its voice.
They don’t need someone else to speak for them.
Maybe that’s the real trophy.